Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani is making headlines all over the world this week for posing nude in a French film produced by the Cesar Academy that has appeared on YouTube. A topless picture of Farahani has also appeared on a Facebook page about the actress, though it is unclear if Farahani controls the page. In the photo, the actress is seen posing topless, but covering both breasts with her hands. Nothing explicit is visible. In the French video posted on YouTube, one of Farahani’s breasts is visible for about one second.
According to this Al Arabiya English-version post, the Golshifteh Farahani pictures and video now circulating online have resulted in the 28-year-old actress being banned from ever returning to her homeland of Iran. Farahani’s IMDB biography page states the Tehran-born actress now lives in Paris, France, with her French-born husband, a producer/director named Amin Mahdavi. Farahani has appeared in over a dozen films internationally, and became the first Iranian-born actress to have a part in a mainstream Hollywood film when she appeared in the 2008 film, “Body of Lies”.
Backlash stemming from the nude Golshifteh Farahani pictures and her appearance in the French film , which features several actors speaking directly into the camera while disrobing, has been swift. According to this Radio Free Europe Radio Library report, Golshifteh was quoted as saying, “I was told by a Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guide official that Iran does not need any actors or artists and you may offer your artistic services somewhere else.”
Though her own country has now seemingly banned Farahani, many people are coming to her defense online. Comments left on the YouTube video of the French film where Farahani briefly bares one of her breasts while looking into the camera show support for the actress. YouTube viewer GharibeAshena17 wrote, “So she posed nude. It’s not that big of a deal.” User Mcleaver agreed, “A beautiful film, beautiful women and some beautiful men, too. What’s wrong with that?”
While many viewers expressed support for Farahani’s decision to pose nude, there were also those who were offended by the actress/model baring her breast in the film. KhomeiniGod wrote, “As a dedicated Khomeinist, I find this video clip deeply deplorable and offensive; may Allah guide her!”
What do you think of the Golshifteh Farahani pictures and video that have reportedly resulted in the actress being banned from her home country? Let us know in the comment section below.